London Hallmarks

London Hallmarks. London has been the most important British Assay Office for the high quality of workmanship and the amount and variety of silverware passing through it. The Goldsmiths Company was the first office in England, authorised to assay and mark gold and silver. This followed the granting of a Royal Charter in 1327. The London Assay Office is still in operation today. The Assay Mark for London is a leopard’s head.

London Assay Mark Leopard with Crown

London Hallmarks Date Letters

A set of four Regency sterling silver master salt cellars from the Lonsdale Service
by Benjamin Smith II, London; probably supplied by Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, 1808
The center of each stand engraved with a crest and coronet within the Order of the Garter, height 3 1/2in (9cm); diameter 4 1/2in (11.5cm); total weight approximately 72oz troy.

AN IMPORTANT SET OF SIX GEORGE I ROYAL SILVER CANDLESTICKS
FIVE WITH MARK OF NICHOLAS CLAUSEN, LONDON, 1718, ONE APPARENTLY UNMARKED
On stepped square bases with incurved corners, the circular wells rising to conforming square baluster stems and urn form sockets, the wells engraved with the Royal arms, five fully marked on undersides, one apparently unmarked, undersides with scratch weights and numbered X52-57
8 7/8 in. (22.7 cm.); 164 oz. 6 dwt. (5,110 gr.)

Sold for USD 206,250 at Christies in 2018

George II Sterling Silver Cruet Frame
Samuel Wood, London, 1741
The cinquefoil stand on scroll feet the central handle with ring finial, fitted for three casters, each of baluster-form chased with foliate scrolls, and two glass bottles with silver caps. Height of stand 10 1/4 inches (26 cm), total approximately 76 ounces, weighable.